John H Luxton Photography

Transport + Industrial + History + Regional

  • Home
  • About
  • What's New
  • Browse
  • Photo Sales & Gifts
  • Info / Blog
  • Search
  • Contact
  • Links
  1. Industrial Archaeology
  2. Ironbridge - Coalbrookdale

The Bedlam Furnaces

Originally built between 1757 and 1759 by the The Madeley Wood Company. The furnaces were among the first blast furnaces to be specifically designed for coke as fuel, rather than charcoal.

They ceased operation c.1843 when production moved to Blists Hill. The only remains are part of one of the furnaces and rear walls and foundations of the blowing engine house. Though conserved by the Iron Bridge Gorge Museum trust the furnaces had been listed on the English Heritage at Risk Register, as the structure had started to decay rapidly.

Following an extensive fundraising campaign, the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust secured £1.2million, including a generous grant from Historic England of £700,000 to build a protective canopy over the remains of the furnaces.

Work on the canopy started during the summer 2017 and was completed in the autumn. The furnaces have now been removed from the “At Risk” register.
Read More
  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    View from the south

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    View from the south showing the protective canopy

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    Tops of the furnace

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    Furnace top

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    Side of the engine house

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    View along the front of the furnaces

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    General view from the north

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    General view from the south

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    L2018_4634

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    furnace number 2

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    furnace 1 and the tuyere chamber passage.

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    Passage to the tuyere chamber from which air was distributed to the furnaces.

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    Passage to the tuyere chamber from which air was distributed to the furnaces.

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    L2018_4629

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    L2018_4628

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The half arch or bellows room housed the furnace bellows powered by a water wheel behind. This was later replaced by a large blowing cylinder powered by the waterwheel.

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The engine house built to pump water for the waterwheel

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    View showing from left to right, the engine house, the bellows room half arch, furnace number 1, the tuyere chamber and furnace number 2.

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    View showing from left to right, the engine house, the bellows room half arch, furnace number 1, the tuyere chamber and furnace number 2.

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    View showing from left to right, the engine house, the bellows room half arch, furnace number 1, the tuyere chamber and furnace number 2..

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    L2018_4622

  • The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    The Bedlam Furnaces, Ironbridge Gorge - December 07, 2018

    L2018_4621

  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2021 SmugMug, Inc.